patty

Collectors Discs

Published: 2/18/26; By Patty.

(pictured: Neon Genesis Evangelion collectors disc volumes 1-5 + booklet; borrowed from the Internet Archive.)

FLCL first aired in Japan in April 2000, and ran until March 2001; to promote FLCL after it aired on television, Gainax put out a collectors disc for 4800 yen filled with FLCL stuff. 323 images (mostly from the series, but some official illustrations), little games, screensavers with music by The Pillows, and a memo program. Gainax did the same with Evangelion, releasing a whole SIX discs (seven if you count the... Girlfriend Of Steel collectors disc) with SO much Eva content on them. Serial Experiments Lain had an awesome disc with some weird games, etc., not just anime either. Soundgarden had their own CD-ROM with songs, music videos, band photos, a video game, previously unseen things, and more.

But they aren't being made anymore, they haven't in years, more than a decade. You can probably guess why, the internet of course. You can easily find official art and other things online and the companies don't have to pay a dime to print CDs. Is it really better this way, though? Some of these discs had things you couldn't find ANYWHERE else, they had high-quality, higher than the later released blu-rays in some cases stills, music, everything. They had soul put into them. Of course, now if you want official art you can just look it up online, which is what killed them in the first place.

Though, as a fan of something, don't you want more than that? I know I do. The quality's never consistent, and there's no joy in it either. The switch from physical to digital has given us instant access to anything we want, but it's taken away opportunities to show your appreciation of a series. DVDs used to come with posters, now if you want a poster you can get a stretched out knock-off off Amazon, you can get one of those weird metal posters, or you can give up.

There's no message to this, I just love CD-ROMs and collectors discs. Peace.

___________________________________________________________

"What's up with your boy? He's not a soft or hot drink." - MF DOOM.

Made by Patty.

Last updated: 2/18/2026.